Kasi, which is Swahili for "one with speed" and Mtani is Swahili for "close friend". The pair were named through a contest the park held on Facebook.

Busch Gardens Tampa

Kasi gets a new pal, a female yellow Lab named Mtani

Busch Gardens Tampa

Introduced in April, Kasi & Mtani became fast friends.

Busch Gardens Tampa

Spending all their days together helped them bond.

Busch Gardens Tampa

Busch Gardens’ first cub-and-puppy combo

Busch Gardens Tampa

Kasi grows in a blink

Busch Gardens Tampa

Kasi & Mtani in vistor viewing area at Jambo Junction

Busch Gardens Tampa

Kasi in vistor viewing area at Jambo Junction

Busch Gardens Tampa

Kasi gets up close with visitors

Busch Gardens Tampa

Kasi plays in vistor viewing area at Jambo Junction

Busch Gardens Tampa

Kasi plays in vistor viewing area at Jambo Junction

Busch Gardens Tampa

Kasi plays in vistor viewing area at Jambo Junction

Busch Gardens Tampa

Kasi & Mtani move playtime outside

Busch Gardens Tampa

Kasi & Mtani move playtime outside

Busch Gardens Tampa

Kasi & Mtani move playtime outside

Busch Gardens Tampa

Kasi & Mtani move playtime outside

Busch Gardens Tampa

Kasi at 5 months old

Busch Gardens Tampa

Kasi at 5 months old

Busch Gardens Tampa

Kasi at 5 months old

Busch Gardens Tampa

They grow up so fast! Busch Gardens baby cheetah, Kasi, was first introduced to the Tampa Bay area on March 21, 2011, and it's been amazing watching him grow up over the past 5 months.

With a new batch of photos to add to our ongoing collection, we decided to take a look back at the cheetah that has captured our hearts here at 10 News.

Busch Gardens took in the baby cheetah cub from the Jacksonville Zoo after its mother was unable to take care of him. About a month later, they introduced him to his new friend, Mtani, a 16-week-old female Labrador puppy.

Kasi recently won Budget Travel's Cutest Zoo Baby contest when he beat out Aurora the Bornean Orangutan and Caspian the Eurasian Eagle Owl with the most votes.

You can visit Kasi and Mtani when they make their daily appearances at Cheetah Run habitat.